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parents. Rheumatism or St. Vitus's Dance was the cause
of one, Scarlet Fever of two, in the others no definite cause
could be ascertained. If care is taken this defect may be
compatible with long and useful life, but the question of
occupation has to be considered, and in each case the parents
were interviewed and suitably advised. Exercises, etc., need
regulation, and some sports have to be prohibited. Of this the
teacher was made aware. The seven cases of "functional
disease" of the heart were those where the action of the heart
was disordered from some cause or other, but where no definite
organic disease was present. Severe Whooping Cough was the
probable cause of one case and Diphtheria of another. In
most cases this is only temporary, and with simple care the
nervous mechanism of the heart rights itself.
Defective Speech.
Thirteen children of the 794 examined had defective
speech. One or two were bad cases of stammering, but five,
among the infants, were not very marked and were said to
be improving
Diseases of the Nervous System.
One case of minor epilepsy in a boy was met with. Cases
where the child would be described as "highly nervous" were
not very uncommon. If any instability of this nature is
present it usually makes itself very apparent at the time of
examination, a very rapid cardiac action being frequently
produced. The remarks re. homework made in connection with
defective vision apply with equal foroe to these cases.
Mentally Dull.
Two cases were noted, both of them being of the nature
of dormant mental attributes rather than actual deficiency.